October 12, 2006

Dear Editor,

Andre Picard is correct in his assessment (Bickering stalls national drug plan to cover catastrophes – Oct. 5) that the National Pharmaceutical Strategy for Canada is “still largely a good idea mired in a bureaucratic bog, and millions of Canadians are suffering unnecessarily.” Two years have passed since Canadians were promised a comprehensive strategy, with no tangible progress to date. Canadians deserve a catastrophic drug coverage program which includes realistic parameters, minimizes bureaucracy and provides equitable access.

However, while the principle of a national process to review drugs for public reimbursement makes sense, expansion of the Common Drug Review model should not be pursued. The CDR is inefficient and creates unnecessary delays in getting medications to Canadians when they most need it.

Sadly, decision makers have yet to engage patients and other concerned Canadians in meaningful discussions and as a result policy options presented to date have been lacking.

It is time that Canada’s elected officials take responsibility and be held accountable for delivering full and equitable access to medications to all Canadians.

Louise Binder, Chair, Best Medicines Coalition